Chapter 17
After getting in the car, Jason frowned slightly, feeling like something was missing. The car was unnaturally quiet, lacking something familiar.
He furrowed his brow, trying to remember. That familiar lavender scent that used to help ease his tense nerves was gone.
“Why did you change the car fragrance?” he asked the driver coldly.
The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror, answering carefully, “Mr. Reid, Mrs. Reid made the previous fragrance herself. She said it would calm your nerves. But recently, she hasn’t provided any new ones.”
Jason froze as several images suddenly flashed through his mind.
”
Coming home late from work, Victoria always left a light on in the foyer with a cup of warm tea on the table.
When his stomach hurt, she’d make oatmeal with a touch of cinnamon, creamy but not too sweet.
On rainy days, she’d quietly slip a small lavender sachet into his suit pocket, saying it would ward off the damp and cold.
Those small, tender gestures he’d barely noticed now pierced his heart.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere at the Coleman residence was suffocatingly tense. Victoria pointed at her injuries, seething with rage.
“That idiot lived such a miserable life while using my identity. She’s completely useless! This is an insult to me!”
Margaret held her lovingly. “Don’t be angry, sweetheart. We’ll get revenge for you.‘
“Revenge?” Victoria scoffed. “Our family isn’t what it used to be, and we gave her 30 million dollars. How can we fight the Reids?”
Both Henry and Margaret paled at her words. Victoria was right. The Colemans had been struggling financially, and they were just keeping appearances. They could only put up a brave front against the Reids.
up
Just then, the butler reported that Jason had arrived with Sophia. Henry and Margaret exchanged glances and stormed out, their eyes immediately landing on Sophia.
“Is this the bitch who bullied my daughter?” Margaret’s voice was shrill as she pointed at Sophia accusingly. “And you have the nerve to bring her here? Do you think the Colemans are pushovers?”
She was about to lunge forward when Jason raised his hand to stop her, his voice ice–cold. “I’m here for answers.
Henry snorted coldly but, wary of the Reids‘ power, stepped aside to let them pass. “Come in. We’ll talk inside.”
Inside the study, the atmosphere was tense. Jason got straight to the point. “Where is the real Victoria?”
Margaret and Henry’s faces changed drastically. After exchanging glances, Henry forced himself to remain calm. “Jason, what do you mean? The one living at the Reid residence right now is Victoria!”
“Is that so?” Jason sneered, pulling out the documents from his suit jacket and throwing them on the table. “Did you think you could hide the stand–in bride from three years ago forever?”
Margaret’s fingers trembled slightly. Just as she was about to argue, the study door suddenly opened.
“I’m Victoria. So what?” A cold voice rang out.
Jason turned to see “Victoria” standing in the doorway, holding up an ID card with the name “Victoria Coleman” clearly written on it.
Jason stared at the document, his brow furrowed. The photo matched the face before him perfectly, but his instincts told him things weren’t this simple, “If you’re doubting my identity, feel free to investigate, Mr. Reid.” She spoke flatly and turned to leave,
Jason grabbed her wrist, his voice low. “Who are you really?”
She looked up at him, her gaze calm to the point of indifference. “Does it matter? You’ve never had a place for ‘Victoria‘ in your heart anyway.” Those words stabbed into Jason’s chest like a knife. He instinctively loosened his grip, and she walked out without looking back.
That evening, Benjamin called.
“Mr. Beid, I found out everything.” His voice carried a hint of tension. “The Colemans have two daughters–twins. Three years ago, it was actually the younger sister, Maya, who married you
“When the older sister, Victoria, ran off overseas to escape the marriage, the Colemans had Maya take her place. But for some reason, the older sister recently returned…”
Jason gripped the phone tightly, his knuckles turning white. So that was it.
The person who cooked for him, left lights on for him, and silently endured everything was never Victoria. It was Maya.
He shot to his feet, his eyes cold as steel. “Take a few people to the Coleman residence immediately, ‘Invite‘ the Coleman couple to come see me.”
